Door lock



Sept. 14, 1965 J. H. ROETHEL DOOR LOCK Filed July 15, 1963 INVENTOR..70'%77 F 2 ylaw/3x4! yrrarrlyz'jx United States Patent 3,266,2 4) D0012LOCK John H. Roethei, 5455 SW. 87th St, South Miami 4-3, Filed duly 15,1953, Ser. No. 295,159

"Claims. (Cl, 292-216) This application is a continuation-in-part ofapplication Ser. No. 161,974, filed December 26, 1961, and nowabandoned.

This invention relates to latch mechanism for swinging doors,particularly the doors of automobile or other vehicle bodies.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved latchmechanism of the so-called free wheeling category. in this category oflatch mechanisms, the operating levers, links and connecting memberscoupling the manually operable devices, such as the door handles, pushbuttons or the like, to the latch device for releasing the latter formovement from latched to unlatched position, may be renderedinoperative. This is accomplished by uncoupling or disconnectingselected links or levers. The manually operable device, such as thehandle or push buttons, remains responsive to actuation, but noactuating movement is transmitted to the latch device holding member. Inits usual form the holding member is a detent means having holdingengagement with a ratchet or control plate coupled to the latch element.

In its preferred form, the present latch mechanism incorporates a simplelink, pivotally mounted and swingable between detent means engaging orbypassing positions. The detent means holds the latch device in latchedposition and must be disengaged therefrom to permit unlatching movement.The link is coupled to the manually operable device, such as a pushbutton or handle, through a lever means. When the link is in detentmeans engaging position, actuating movement of the manually operabledevice is transmitted to the detent means to cause disengagement of thelatter from the latch device; conversely, when the link is in detentmeans bypassing position, the manually operable device is inoperative tocause detent means movement.

Other objects, features and advantages of the present invention willappear in the following description and appended claims, reference beinghad to the accompanying drawing, in which:

FIG. 1 is an elevation, in part sectional, looking toward the inner faceof the latch mechanism late on which the latch element is carried;

FIG. 2 is an elevation, in part sectional, looking in the direction ofthe arrows 22 of FIG. 1;

FiG. 3 is an elevation looking at the front face of the latch mechanismplate of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 4 is a vertical section, in part fragmentary, taken through theline 44 of FIG. 3.

The latch mechainsm embodying the present invention is generallydesignated 11 and comprises a case plate 12 having a flange 13. The caseplate 12 is adapted to be secured, as by means of screws insertedthrough the screw bosses 14, to the inner side of the free edge wall ofa vehicle door with the flange 13 positioned along the inner panel ofthe door.

The latch element, generally designated 15, is pivotally mounted on thecase plate 12. The latch element 15 comprises a bifurcated or hook-likemember formed at its end spaced from its pivotal mounting with a deepnotch or recess 16 disposed between a pair of side portions or arms 17and 18 having rounded ends.

The latch element 15 is carried on one end 19 of a short shaft 21rotatably journalled in a shoulder bushing 22 mounted in the case plate12 (see FIG. 4). The latch element 15 and the shaft end 19 are coupledto each other so that turning movement of the one is always transmittedto the other.

3,206,240 Patented Sept. 14, 1965 The shaft 21 is coupled at itsopposite end 23 to a ratchet member 24. Here again the coupling is suchthat turning movement of the ratchet member 24 and the shaft 21 occursin unison. Thus, the latch element '15 and ratchet member 24 are coupledthrough the shaft 21 for movement in unison and for purpose ofdefinition the three elements may hereinafter be referred to as thelatch device or latch device means.

The ratchet member 24 has three depending tooth-like elements orprojections 25, 26 and 27. The tooth-like projections are adapted to beengaged by a detent means, generally designated 28. The detent means 28comprises a member pivotally mounted intermediate its ends on a pivotstud 29 mounted on the case plate 12. The detent means 28 is a firstorder lever having an upwardly inclined .arm 31 terminating in aV-shaped end portion 32 and a substantially horizontally extending arm33.

The end portion 32 of the detent means arm 31 is engageable with each ofthe projections 25, 26 and 27 on the ratchet member 24 for a specificfunction. As shown in FIG. 1, the portion 32 is engaged with theprojection 25. In this position of engagement, the detent means 28 holdsthe ratchet member 24 and, therefore, the latch element 15 in fullylatched position. If the end portion is in engagement with theprojection 26, i.e., between the projections 25 and 26, the latchelement would be held in a secondary latched position, as shown in FIG.3. In this position the door would not be fully latched but would beheld against inadvertent opening. It should be noted that the depth ofthe cut between the projections 25 and 26 is relatively shallow, for areason to be explained.

The V-shaped end portion 32 is adapted to engage the third projection 27in fully unlatched position of the latch element and when so engaged thedetent means 28 is in exactly the same position it occupies when in theposition shown in FIG. 1. The reason for this will be also be explained.

To disengage the detent means 28 from its holding posi tion shown inFIG. 1, it must be swung in a clockwise direction. This swingingmovement may be accomplished from either the outside or the inside ofthe vehicle door.

It will be noted that the latch mechanism 11 includes a bell crank lever34 which is pivotally mounted on a pivot stud 35 carried by the plate12, the pivot stud 35 being located at the upper right hand corner ofthe plate, as seen in FIG. 1. The lever 34 has a depending arm 36 havingalong its outer edge a short flange or paddle 37. The flange 37 ispositioned for engagement by the stem of a push button or the like 38 ofa conventional push-button type outside door handle.

The lever 34 has a curved arm 39 extending toward the latch plat-eflange 13. Secured to the extremity of this arm 39 is a pivot stud 41from which hangs a link 42. This link 42 is of suflicient length toextend down the case plate 12 to a point below the detent means arm 33.

Referring now to FIG. 1, the latch mechanism is shown in latchedposition. It will be readily apparent that if the push button stem 38 ismoved toward the flange 13, the bell crank lever will be swung in aclockwise direction and the link 42 will be raised. The hook 43 on theend of the link 42 will catch the lug 44 on the end of the detent arm 33and cause the detent means to be swung in a direction to causeunblocking or disengagement of its portion 32 from the ratchet plateprojection 25. The latch device means is then free to rotate inunlatching direction.

The bell crank lever 34 is also swingable from the inside of the doorthrough a bell crank lever 45 mounted on a pivot stud 46 on the flange13 (see FIG. 3). Lever 45 has a horizontal arm 47 which extends from thepivot stud 46 toward the case plate 12 and underlies a projection 48 onthe link 42. The projection 48 is located on the link 42 just below thepivotal connection of the latter to the end 3 of the curved arm 39. Thebell crank lever 45 has an upstanding arm 49 adapted to be coupled by adraft link (not shown) to a conventional remote control mechanism (notshown) mounted on an inner door panel.

As seen in FIG. 1, there is a gap between the upper edge of the bellcrank arm 47 and the lower edge of the link projection 48. This providesa degree of lost motion for a purpose to be explained. But after thisgap is closed upon swinging movement of the bell crank 45, engagement ofthe arm 47 with the link projection 4% will result in upward movement ofthe link 42 with the same results as caused by movement of the bellcrank lever 34 through actuation by the push button stem 38.

In the present latch mechanism, the outer manually operable means may berendered inoperative to disengage the detent means 28 from the ratchetmember 24 by the simple expedient of displacing the link 42 from itssolid outline position shown in FIG. 1 to the dot and dash position. Itwill be noted that when link 42 is in the dot and dash outline position,the hook 43 is not in position to exert a lifting action on the lug 44on the end of the detent arm 33. When the link 42 is raised uponactuation of the bell crank lever 34, the link hook portion 43 merelybypasses the lug 44.

Movement of the link 42 to its free-wheeling or detent bypassingcondition shown in FIG. 1 is accomplished by camming it away from thecase plate 13. The camming means comprises a locking lever 50 and aninclined surface 51 on the link 42. The locking lever 50 is mounted onthe case plate flange 13 by means of a pivot stud 52 locatedsubstantially vertically below the pivot stud 46 for the lever 45. Whenthe locking lever 50 is swung from its solid outline position to the dotand dash outline position (see FIG. 2), the free end 53 engages theinclined surface 51 of the link 42 and moves the link from the solidoutline position to the dot and dash outline position of FIG. 1. Anyvertical movement imposed on the link 42 when in this position merelyresults in the link edge 54 sliding against the face of the end 53 ofthe arm 50.

The locking or camming lever 50 is shiftable by inner or outer means.The inner means may comprise a rod 55 adapted to extend through agarnish molding (not shown) on the inner side of the door. The rod 55 iscapped by a knob 56 in the usual manner. When the rod 55 is pushed down,the displacement of the link 42 occurs.

The outer means for shifting the locking or camming lever comprises alever 57 coupled by a link 58 to the lever '59, the point of connectionbeing conveniently in common with the point of connection of the rod 55.The lever 57 is adapted to be coupled to a shaft (not shown) of aconventional key operated device operable from the outside of thevehicle door.

It should be noted that the locking lever 50 has an upwardly curvedextension 59 which, when the locking lever 50 is moved into link 42displacing position (dot and dash position in FIG. 2), abuts the arm 49of the bell crank lever 45. Without the curved extension, displacementof the locking lever 50 into link 42 displacing position would renderthe inner manually operable lever 45 inoperative to release the detentmeans 23 from the ratchet plate 24. This, of course, may be desired andprovides an optional construction for the latch mechanism if it is to beused on the rear doors of a vehicle. But for a front door latchmechanism, a release mechanism is required.

That is, when the link 42 is in detent means bypassing condition and itis desired to open the vehicle door from the inside, the bell cranklever 45 must be swung in a counterclockwise direction as viewed in FIG.2. Because of the gap between the end of the arm 47 and the projection48, the initial movement of the bell crank 45 finds no response orupward movement of the link 42. But the initial movement of the bellcrank 45 does find response in and causes movement of the locking lever59 out of camming relation to the link 42. The locking lever 56 throughthe relationship of its curved extension 59 with the crank arm 49 isadapted to be moved automatically out of camming position relative tothe link 42. Without the curved extension 59, the locking lever couldonly be moved out of camming position by manipulation of the rod 55 orthe key cylinder operable lever 57. Until the locking lever 56 endportion 53 is moved out of camming relation to the link 42, the lattercan only move in a path in which it bypasses the detent arm lug 44.

Restoration of the link 4-2 to detent actuating or engaging position isaccomplished through spring force. It will be noted that a spring 61 iscarried on the pivot stud 41, the spring having a depending leg 62hooked over the link 42 and an upwardly extending leg 63 hearing againsta lug 64 on the arm 39 of the bell crank lever 34. The spring 61 iswound and preloaded so that it at all times urges the link 42 toward theflange 13.

Both the latch device, i.e., the latch element 15 and ratchet member 24,and the detent means 28 are spring loaded. The latch device is alwaysspring urged toward unlatching direction and the detent h leans 28toward ratchet member 24 engagement. This is accomplished by separateclock-type or spiral springs 65 and 66, respectively.

The inner end of the latch element spring 65 is anchored on the pivotshaft 21 and the free end 67 is hooked over a fixed lug 68 on the caseplate 12. Movement of the latch element in latching direction, winds upthe spring 65 so that upon disengagement of the detent means 28 from theratchet member 24 the spring urges the latch element toward unlatchingdirection.

The detent means spring 66 has its inner end anchored to the pivot stud29 and its free end 69 engaged with a lug 71 on the arm 31 of the detentmeans. Upon pivotal movement of the detent means in ratchet memberdisengaging (clockwise) direction, the spring 6 6 is wound up and reactsby driving or urging the detent means in ratchet member engagingdirection.

It has been mentioned that in latch device unlatched position the end 32of the detent means arm 31 engages the ratchet member projection 27. Thedepth of the cut between the projection 27 and the adjacent projection26 is such that the detent means assumes the same at rest position itoccupies in fully latched position of the latch device. This providesanother optional feature for the latch mechanism embodying the presentinvention. By the simple addition or deletion of another part, a slide72, the latch mechanism may be set up for key locking or keylesslocking.

If keyless locking, i.e., locking only through the control rod 55 isdesired, the latch member is complete as described. Movement of the link42 into detent means bypassing condition with the vehicle door open andthe latch device in unlatched position results in no resetting of anyparts of the latch mechanism when the door is closed.

To set up the latch mechanism for key locking, the additional part, theslide 72, is provided. This slide 72 has an elongated slot 73. The slotreceives a stud 74 which slidably holds the slide 72 on the case plate12, the slide lying adjacent the flange 13 and being guided thereby forlineal movement. The slide overlies the end 4-4 of the detent means arm33 and underlies the end 53 of the locking lever 50 when the latter isin link 42 camming position, i.e., the dot and dash outline positionshown in FIG. 1. If the camming or locking lever is placed in positionto move the link 42 into detent means bypassing position when the latchdevice is in unlatched position and the door is open, movement of thedoor to closed position wil cause, upon engagement of the latch devicewith its striker, the detent means to be swung in a clockwise direction.The detent means arm 44 will kick the slide 72 up and cause the latterto drive the locking lever 50 to noncamrning position. To look the doorfrom 3 the outside it is then necessary to use the key to swing thelever 57 in a direction to move the locking lever from its solid outlineposition to the dot and dash outline camming position shown in FIG. 2.

In this connection the depth of the notch between the projections and2-6 on the ratchet member 24 is of importance. As illustrated, it issomewhat shallower than the depth of the notch between the projections26 and 27. Accordingly, when the detent arm end 32 engages theprojection 26 in the secondary latched position of the latch device, thedetent means 28 is held in a position'sufficiently displaced from itsnormal position so that the slide 72 will interfere with movement of thelocking lever to link 42 camming position. The latch mechanism cannot beplaced in free wheeling condition when the latch device is in secondarylatched position.

The latch element 15, referring now particularly to FIGS. 3 and 4, isencased in a housing 75 provided with an opening 76 adapted to receive akeeper pin, generally designated 77.

Contained within the housing 75 is a slideable wedge 78, preferably madeof nylon or other hard plastic material. The wedge 78 travels on a guiderod 79 and is spring urged in an outward direction by a spring 81.

It will be noted that the upper inner surface 82 of the housing isdownwardly inclined in the direction of approach of the keeper pin 77 asrepresented by the arrow 77a. The upper surface of the wedge is at anequal slope and the guide rod 79 is parallel to this surface. The

lower surface 83 of the wedge is upwardly inclined at an acute angle. Ifthere is assumed a horizontal reference plane, represented by the line80, parallel to the upper horizontal edge of the case plate 12 whichpasses through the intersection of the longitudinal axis, represented bythe line 79a, of the guide rod and a planar extension, represented bythe line 83a, of the wedge surface 83, it will be found that the acuteangle between the wedge surface 83 and the reference plane will besubstantially equal to the acute angle between the longitudinal axis ofthe guide rod 79 and the reference plane. Because of this relationship,the wedge 78 always engages the keeper pin at a non-locking andsubstantially constant pressure angle as it moves in and out andcorrespondingly up and down, the in and out and the up and down movementthereby resulting in bodily shiftable movement of said wedge means in anangular direction, or movement along an angle which is that of the guiderod 83. This angular direction is away from the pivot axis of the latchmember 15 as measured from the direction of relative movement of thekeeper device along the line 77a as the latch member and the keeperdevice move relatively to one another into latching engagement. Sincethe angle of the guide rod 79 is opposite to that of the angle of thewedge surface with reference to the reference line 80, the relationshipof the angular direction movement of the wedge means with reference tothe wedge surface may be stated as follows: The slope of the angulardirection movement of the wedge means is opposite to the slope of thewedging surface. In simple dictionary terms and as used herein, the termslope means a slanting position or direction or the amount of saidslant.

It will be noted in FIG. 4 that the keeper pin 77 is mounted on a plate84 adapted to be secured to a door pillar, or other vehicle body framestructure in a conventional manner. At its outboard end the pin 77 isprovided with an enlarged head 85. The wedge 78 is undercut at 86 toprovide clearance for the head 85 and the latter is interposed betweenthe outer face of the case plate 12 and the inner face of the latchelement 15 when the latter is in secondary or fully latched position.This provides protection against any forceable lateral disengagement ofthe latch element 15 from the keeper pin 77 such as might occur when thevehicle body and door are twisted or sprung as a result of collisionimpact forces.

The latching action may be summarized as follows: With the latch element15 in unlatched position, swinging movement of the vehicle door in aclosing direction causes the arm 18 of the latch element to engage thekeeper pin 77 as the pin engages the ramp surface 87 of the housing 75.The detent end portion moves across the projection 26 and if the doorclosing action is Weak enough, it drops into the notch between theprojections 25 and 26. The parts then appear as shown in FIG. 3. Thewedge 78 will be in a relatively outboard position and its surface 83will be low enough to rest on top of the keeper pin 77. The pin willthen be blocked against jumping out of the notch between the latchelement arms 17 and 18.

Upon movement of the door to fully latched position, the dotted outlineposition seen in FIG. 1, the wedge 78 will have been moved inwardly andupwardly; the pin 77 will be blocked against outward movement by thelatch element arm 17 and against up and down movement by the wedgesurface 83; and the ratchet member 24 and thereby the latch elementagainst movement in unlatching engagement by the holding relationship ofthe detent end portion 32 with the ratchet projection 25.

It should be mentioned that any overtravel of the latch element 15 asmight occur if the vehicle door is closed heavily, is cushioned by arubber bumper 88 mounted on the inner surface of the end wall of thehousing 75.

It will be understood that the invention is not to be limited to theexact construction shown and described, but that various changes andmodifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope ofthe invention as defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a latch mechanism for a vehicle door,

a support having a main plate portion for disposition at the free edgewall of the door and a flange portion integral therewith,

a latch device pivotally mounted on said main plate portion andincluding a latch element having a keeper device engaging portion,

detent means pivotally mounted on said main plate portion for holdingsaid latch device in door latched position,

manually operable means for disengaging said detent means form saidlatch device comprising a lever pivotally mounted on said main plateportion and a link means pivotally suspended from said lever at a pointspaced from the pivot axis of the latter,

said link means being bodily movable longitudinally of said main plateportion in response to pivotal movement of said lever,

said link means normally having a part thereof engageable with saiddetent means to pivot the latter out of holding position relative tosaid latch device upon movement of the link means in one direction,

control means pivotally mounted on said flange portion movable intoabutting relation to a part of said link means to swing the link meansabout its pivotal suspension to a position in which the detent meansengaging part thereof will bypass the detent means upon movement of saidlink means in said one direction,

and additional lever means on said support operative when said controlmeans has swung the link means in bypassing position to first engage andrestore said control means to a nonabutting relation to said link meansand then to engage and swing said manually operable means in a.direction to move said link means in said one direction to causedisengagement of the detent means from said latch device.

2. In a latch mechanism for a vehicle door,

a support having a main plate portion for disposition at the free edgewall of the door and a flange portion integral therewith,

a latch device pivotally mounted on said main plate portion andincluding a latch element having a keeper device engaging portion spacedfrom the pivot axis thereof,

detent means pivotally mounted on said main plate portion for holdingsaid latch device in door latched position,

manually operable means for disengaging said detent means from saidlatch device comprising a lever pivotally mounted on said main plateportion and a link means pivotally suspended from said lever at a pointspaced from the pivot axis of the latter,

said link means being bodily movable in an up and down direction uponpivotal movement of said lever,

said link means normally having a part thereof engageable with saiddetent means to pivot the latter out of holding position relative tosaid latch device upon movement of the link means in an up direction,

control means pivotally mounted on said flange portion movable intoabutting relation to a part of said link means to swing the link meansabout its pivotal suspension transversely of its normal up and downdirection of movement to a position in which the detent means engagingpart thereof will bypass the detent means upon upward movement of thelink means,

and additional lever means on said flange portion operative when saidcontrol means has swung the link means in bypassing position to firstengage and restore said control means to a nonabutting relation to saidlink means and then to engage and swing said manually operable lever ina direction to move said link means in an up direction to causedisengagement of the detent means from said latch device.

3. In a latch mechanism for a vehicle door,

a support having a main plate portion for disposition at the free edgewall of the door and a flange portion integral therewith,

a latch device pivotally mounted on said main plate portion andincluding a latch element having a keeper device engaging portion spacedfrom the pivot axis thereof,

detent means pivotally mounted on said main plate portion for holdingsaid latch device in door latched position,

manually operable means for disengaging said detent means from saidlatch device comprising a lever pivotally mounted on said main plateportion and a link means pivotally suspended from said lever at a pointspaced from the pivot axis of the latter,

said link means being bodily movable in an up and down direction uponpivotal movement of said lever,

said link means normally having a part thereof engageable with saiddetent means to pivot the latter out of holding position relative tosaid latch device upon movement of the link means in an up direction,

control means pivotally mounted on said flange portion movable intoabutting relation to a part of said link means to swing the link meansabout its pivotal suspension to a position in which the detent meansengaging part thereof will bypass the detent means upon upward movementof the link means,

and restoring means on said main plate portion interposed between saiddetent means and control means and operative when said control means isin link means abutting relation to restore said control means to anonabutting relation to said link means in response to movement of saiddetent means caused by engagement of said latch device with a keeperdevice as said door is moved from an opened to a closed position.

4. In a latch mechanism for a vehicle door,

a support having a main plate portion for disposition at the free edgewall of the door and a flange portion integral therewith,

a latch device pivotally mounted on said main plate portion andincluding a latch element having a keeper device engaging portion spacedfrom the pivot axis thereof,

detent means pivotally mounted on said main plate portion for holdingsaid latch device in door latched position,

manually operable means for disengaging said detent means from saidlatch device comprising a lever pivotally mounted on said main plateportion and a link means pivotally suspended from said lever at a pointspaced from the pivot axis of the latter,

said link means being bodily movable in an up and down direction uponpivotal movement of said lever,

said link means normally having a part thereof engageable with saiddetent means to pivot the latter out of holding position relative tosaid latch device upon movement of the link means in an up direction,

control means pivotally mounted on said flange portion movable intoabutting relation to a part of said link means to swing the link meansabout its pivotal suspension transversely of its normal up and downdirection of movement to a position in which the detent means engagingpart thereof will bypass the detent means upon upward movement of thelink means,

additional lever means on said flange portion operative when saidcontrol means has swung the link means in bypassing position to firstengage and restore said control means to a nonabutting relation to saidlink means and then to engage and swing said manually operable meanslever in a direction to move said link means in an up direction to causedisengagement of the detent means from said latch device,

and a slide means on said support interposed between said detent meansand control means and operative when said control means is in link meansabutting relation to restore said control means to a nonabuttingrelation to said link means in response to movement of said detent meansindependently of said 7 additional lever means.

5. In a latch mechanism for a vehicle door,

a support having a main plate portion for disposition at the free edgewall of the door and a flange portion integral therewith,

a latch device pivotally mounted on said main plate portion andincluding a latch element having a keeper device engaging portion spacedfrom the pivot axis thereof,

detent means pivotally mounted on said main plate portion for holdingsaid latch device in door latched position,

said latch device having a plurality of projections thereon definingfully latched, partially latched and unlatched positions,

manually operable means for disengaging said detent means from saidlatch device comprising a lever pivotally mounted on said main plateportion and a link means pivotally connected to said lever and suspendedtherefrom,

spring means at said pivotal connection urging said link means towardsaid flange portion,

said link means being bodily movable longitudinally of said main plateportion and contiguous to said flange portion in response to pivotalmovement of said lever,

said link means normally having a part thereof engageable with saiddetent means to pivot the latter out of holding position relative tosaid latch device upon movement of the link means, in one direction,

control means pivotally mounted on said flange portion for movement intoabutting relation to said link neans to swing the latter against theurging of said spring means away from said flange portion into aposition in which said detent means engaging part will bypass the detentmeans upon movement of said link means in said one direction,

and additional lever means on said support operative when said controlmeans has swung the link means in bypassing position to engage andrestore said control means to a nonabutting position relative to saidlink means whereby said spring means will restore the latter into detentmeans engaging position.

6. In a latch mechanism for a vehicle door,

a support having a main plate portion for disposition at the free edgewall of the door and a flange portion integral therewith.

a latch device pivotally mounted on said main plate portion andincluding a latch element having a keeper device engaging portion spacedfrom the pivot axis thereof,

said latch device having a plurality of projections thereon definingfully latched, partially latched and unlatched positions,

detent means pivotally mounted on said main plate portion forcooperative engagement with said latch device in any one of saidpositions,

manually operable means for disengaging said detent means from saidlatch device comprising a lever pivotally mounted on said main plateportion and a link means pivotally connected to said lever and suspendedtherefrom,

spring means at said pivotal connection urging said link means towardsaid flange portion,

said link means being bodily movable in an up and down direction uponpivotal movement of said lever,

said link means normally having a part thereof engageable with saiddetent means to pivot the latter out of engagement with said latchdevice upon movement of the link means in an up direction,

control means pivotally mounted on said flange portion for movement intoabutting relation to said link means to swing the latter against theurging of said spring means away from said flange portion into aposition in which said detent means engaging part will bypass the detentmeans upon movement of said link means in an up direction,

and additional lever means on said flange portion operative when saidcontrol means has swung the link means in bypassing position to engageand restore said control means to a nonabutting position relative tosaid link means whereby said spring means will restore the latter intodetent means engaging position.

7. In a latch mechanism for a vehicle door,

a support having a main plate portion for disposition at the free edgewall of the door and a flange portion integral therewith,

a latch device pivotally mounted on said main plate portion andincluding a latch element having a keeper device engaging portion spacedfrom the pivot axis thereof,

said latch device having a plurality of projections thereon definingfully latched, partially latched and unlatched positions,

detent means pivotally mounted on said main plate portion for engagementwith said latch device projections in any one of said positions,

manually operable means for disengaging said detent means from saidlatch device comprising a lever pivotally mounted on said main plateportion and a link means pivotally connected to said lever and suspendedtherefrom,

spring means at said pivotal connection urging said link means towardsaid flange portion,

said link means being bodily movable in an up and down direction uponpivotal movement of said lever,

said link means normally having a part thereof engageable with saiddetent means to pivot the latter out of engagement with said latchdevice upon movement of the link means in an up direction,

control means pivotally mounted on said flange portion for movement intoabutting relation to said link means to swing the latter against theurging of said spring means away from said flange portion into aposition in which said detent means engaging part will bypass the detentmeans upon movement of said link means in an up direction,

and restoring means on said main plate portion interposed between saiddetent means and control means and operative when said control means isin link means abutting relation to restore said control means to anonabutting position relative to said link means in response to movementof said detent means caused by engagement of said latch device with akeeper device as said door is moved from an opened to a closed positionwhereby said spring means will restore the latter into detent meansengaging position.

8. In a latch mechanism according to claim 7 in which:

the relationship between said latch device, detent means, restoringmeans and control means is such that said control means is operative toshift said link means into detent means bypassing position only in fullylatched or unlatched positions of said latch device,

said latch device when in partially latched position holding said detentmeans in a displaced position and said detent means blocking placementof said restoring means in a position of noninterference with saidcontrol means thereby to interfere with the movement of the latter in adirection to place said link means in detent means bypassing position.

9. In a latch mechanism for a vehicle door,

a support having a main plate portion for disposition at the free edgewall of the door and a flange portion integral therewith,

a latch device pivotally mounted on said main plate portion andincluding a latch element having a keeper device engaging portion spacedfrom the pivot axis thereof,

said latch device having a plurality of projections thereon definingfully latched, partially latched and unlatched positions, I

detent means pivotally mounted on said main plate portion for engagementwith said latch device projections in any one of said positions,

manually operable means for disengaging said detent means from saidlatch device comprising a lever pivotally mounted on said main plateportion and a link means pivotally connected to said lever and suspendedtherefrom,

spring means at said pivotal connection urging said link means towardsaid flange portion,

said link means being bodily movable in an up and down direction uponpivotal movement of said lever,

said link means normally having a part thereof engageable with saiddetent means to pivot the latter out of engagement with said latchdevice upon movement of the link means in an up direction,

control means pivotally mounted on said flange portion for movement intoabutting relation to said link means to swing the latter against theurging of said spring means away from said flange portion into aposition in which said detent means engaging part will bypass the detentupon movement of said link means in an up direction,

additional lever means on said flange portion operative when saidcontrol means has swung the link means in bypassing position to engageand restore said control means to a nonabutting position relative tosaid link means whereby said spring means will restore the latter intodetent means engaging position,

and a slide means on said support interposed between said detent meansand control means and operative when said control means is in link meansabutting relation to restore said control means to a nonabuttingrelation to said link means in response to move- 1 1 ment of said detentmeans independently of said additional lever means.

10. In a latch mechanism according to claim 9 in which: the relationshipbetween said latch device, detent means,

slide means and control means is such that said control means isoperative to shift said link means into detent means bypassing positiononly in fully latched or unlatched position of said latch device, saidlatch device when in partially latched position holding said detentmeans in a displaced position and said detent means blocking placementof said slide means into a position of noninterference with said controlmeans thereby to interfere with the movement of the latter in adirection to place said link means in detent means bypassing direction.11. In a latch mechanism for a door member swingable into door closedposition in a frame member,

a support plate mounted on one of said members, a latch member pivotallymounted on said support plate, a wedge means,

a keeper device mounted on the other of said members 7 and having acurved engaging surface a first portion of which is engageable by akeeper device engaging portion of said latch member and a second portionof which is engageable by said wedge means,

said latch member keeper device engaging portion being spaced from theaxis of pivotal movement of said latch member and having a curved recesstherein receiving and encompassing said curved surface first portion indoor member closed position,

said wedge means having an angularly inclined wedging surface forengagement with said keeper device curved engaging surface secondportion,

and guide means slidably mounting said wedge means on said supportplate,

said guide means being constructed and arranged to restrict said wedgemeans, when the wedgingsurface of the latter is engaged by said keeperdevice, to bodily shiftable movement in an angular direction away fromthe pivot axis of said latch member as measured from the direction ofrelative movement of said keeper device as said latch member and saidkeeper device move relatively to one another into" latching engagement,1

to the slope of said wedging surface,

' the angular movement of said wedge means causing the latter tomaintain substantially uniform wedging pressure on the keeper devicewhen engaged therewith.

12. In a latch mechanism according to claim 11 in which the slope of theangular movement of the wedgemeans is substantially equal to the slopeof the wedging surface although opposite thereto as measured from thedirection of relative movement of said keeper device and said latchmember.

13. In a latch mechanism according to claim 12 in which the supportplate on which the latch member is pivotally s mounted and on which thewedge means is slidably mounted is mounted on the door member,

and the keeper device is fixed to the frame member. 14; In a latchmechanism according to claim 11 in which the support plate on which thelatch member is pivotally mounted and on which the wedge means isslidably mouhted is mounted on the door member,

and the keeper device is fixed to the frame member. 15. In a latchmechanism according to claim 11 in which the latch member has asecondary latched position which is attained before the door member isfully closed and a primary latched position which is attained when .thedoor member is fully closed,

said wedge means being operative in said secondary position of the latchmember to maintain the latching engagement of the latch member with thekeeper device substantially as maintained when the latch member is inprimary latched position thereby minimizing vertical vibratory movementbetween the latch member and the keeper device in both partially andfully closed positions of the door member.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,499,165 2/50Roethel- 292-341.12

2,665,159 1/54 Allen 292-216 2,782,062 2/57' Smith. i 2,860,905 11/58Wiese 292-341.12

2,904,365 9/59 Cockburn et al.

3,007,731 11/61 Roethel.

3,065,013 11/62 Pickles.

JOSEPH-D. SEERS, Primary Examiner.

M. HENSON WOOD, JR., Examiner.

1. IN A LATCH MECHANISM FOR A VEHICLE DOOR, A SUPPORT HAVING A MAINPLATE PORTION FOR DISPOSITION AT THE FREE EDGE WALL OF THE DOOR AND AFLANGE PORTION INTEGRAL THEREWITH, A LATCH DEVICE PIVOTALLY MOUNTED ONSAID MAIN PLATE PORTION AND INCLUDING A LATCH ELEMENT HAVING A KEEPERDEVICE ENGAGING PORTION, DETENT MEANS PIVOTALLY MOUNTED ON SAID MAINPLATE PORTION FOR HOLDING SAID LATCH DEVICE IN DOOR LATCHED POSITION,MANUALLY OPERABLE MEANS FOR DISENGAGING SAID DETENT MEANS FORM SAIDLATCH DEVICE COMPRISING A LEVER PIVOTALLY MOUNTED ON SAID MAIN PLATEPORTION AND A LINK MEANS PIVOTALLY SUSPENDED FROM SAID LEVER AT A POINTSPACED FROM THE PIVOT AXIS OF THE LATTER, SAID LINK MEANS BEING BODILYMOVABLE LONGITUDINALLY OF SAID MAIN PLATE PORTION IN RESPONSE TO PIVOTALMOVEMENT OF SAID LEVER, SAID LINK MEANS NORMALLY HAVING A PART THEREOFENGAGEABLE WITH SAID DETENT MEANS TO PIVOT THE LATTEER OUT OF HOLDINGPOSITION RELATIVE TO SAID LATCH DEVICE UPON MOVEMENT OF THE LINK MEANSIN ONE DIRECTION, CONTROL MEANS PIVOTALLY MOUNTED ON SAID FLANGE PORTIONMOVABLE INTO ABUTTING RELATION TO A PART OF SAID LINK MEANS TO SWING THELINK MEANS ABOUT ITS PIVOTAL SUSPENSION TO A POSITION IN WHICH THEDETENT MEANS ENGAGING PART THEREOF WILL BYPASS THE DETENT MEANS UPONMOVEMENT OF SAID LINK MEANS IN SAID ONE DIRECTION, AND ADDITIONAL LEVERMEANS ON SAID SUPPORT OPERATIVE WHEN SAID CONTROL MEANS HAS SWUNG THELINK MEANS IN BYPASSING POSITION TO FIRST ENGAGE AND RESTORE SAIDCONTROL MEANS TO A NONABUTTING RELATION TO SAID LINK MEANS AND THEN TOENGAGE AND SWING SAID MANUALLY OPERABLE MEANS IN A DIRECTION TO MOVESAID LINK MEANS IN SAID ONE DIRECTION TO CAUSE DISENGAGEMENT OF THEDETENT MEANS FROM SAID LATCH DEVICE.